Bamberger Symphoniker, Horst Stein - Max Reger: Suite in Olden Style, Serenade (1995)

The suite is in three movements the first and last of which has flashing woodwind in the style of Bach's second suite for orchestra with its prominent role for flickering solo flute. Bachian lightness and Regerian lumber meet and for the most part settle in favour of the lighter hand. The contrasting central largo is rather modern in style.
The substantial Serenade in G Major is for full orchestra. Its first movement boasts memorably satiny strings. The style? Well, if Brahms 1 was spoken of by some as Beethoven's 10th symphony then this is Brahms' Third Serenade. A contented Beethovenian allegro. The second movement is a brief skittering vivace with at 1.30 some blaringly exciting horns ear-catchingly recorded. The Andante Semplice third movement sounds a little like Othmar Schoeck (who was no doubt influenced by Reger - try Schoeck's orchestral suite) and links into the Reger Sinfonietta with its stroll in warm Alpine uplands. The final allegro con spirito is perhaps a bit overlong with an undertow comparable to the Brahms first symphony. It tends towards soporific romanticism and plays out bravely in a lovely peace as you might expect from a serenade. A pity he did not do the same for the Beethoven Variations. -- Rob Barnett